Relatively, marijuana poses only as much danger, probably less, both to the user and the community, than alcohol. When only the consequences of the use of those two substances are considered, neither seems to be clearly more dangerous. If anything, alcohol poses a greater danger to the user. It’s virtually impossible to smoke oneself to death. On the other hand, it’s no big trick for a drinker to throw back enough to put him or herself in danger.

Given that both substances pose similar dangers, why would one offense be dealt with so lightly and the other offense dealt with so harshly?

Both offenses should be given equal standing in the eyes of residence hall policy. And the consequences for alcohol possession in the residence halls shouldn’t be made more severe, the consequences for marijuana should be lessened.

This realistic consistency in punishment would give residence hall policy more credibility and more enforceability. A new policy might even help crack down on pot smoking. If a student wants to stop one of his or her neighbors from smoking pot but only wants the behavior to cease, not for the person to be arrested or kicked out of the residence hall, a more reasonable policy would encourage community enforcement.

For pot, let the punishment fit the crime.